Defrosting tank for confection molds



March 24, 1953 A. FRIEDMAN DEFROSTING TANK FOR CONFECTION MOLDS 2SHEETSr-SHEET 1 Filed June 21, 1946 INVENTOR Aaromimdmm BY e/ A /RNEY A.FRIEDMAN DEFROSTING TANK FOR CONFECTION MOLDS March 24, 1953 Filed June21, 1946 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENII'OR Aaron Eueqmn/ A ORNEY Patented Mar.24, 19953 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICEY; T

DEFROSTING TANK FOR CONFECTION MOLDS Aaron Friedman, New York, N. Y.,assignorto Joe Lowe Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corp'oration ofDelaware Application June 21, 1946, Serial No. 678,521

@The present invention relates to improvements in defrosting apparatuswhicheare widely used in the frozen confectionery industry for releasingfrozen confectionery products ,from the shown in-discharge positionthereon; the sub- 6 Claims, (01. 134-154) merged position of the innertank with the" frozen confectionery mold supported on its in-, clinedplatform is also shown in dotted lines to illustrate the operation ofthe, apparatus;

molds in which they are frozen, and it has spe- 5 Figure 4 is across-sectional view of the apcific, relation to a stationary defrostingtank paratus shown in Figure 3, the same having been containing a liquidand having an inner fioattaken substantially along theline 4 l thereof,ing tank provided with an inclined platform for looking in the directionof, the arrows; i supporting a mold above the liquid level in an Figure5 is a top plan view of the apparatus inclined position, whereby thesame will be dis- 1 shown in Figure 3; and charged automatically fromthe apparatus when Figure 6 is a modified form of apparatusmade theconfections are removed and the mold is in accordance with theprinciples of theinven released from the control of the operator. tion,wherein the mold discharge is sidewise in- One of the objects of thepresent invention stead of endwise as in Figures 1 to is toprovide animproved defrosting tank which Referring now to the drawing, andparticu-- will-facilitate the defrosting of frozen confec- "-larly toFigur 1 thereof, there is showna detions from their molds with a minimumof time frostingapparatus made in accordance with the and effort on thepart of the operator, thereby invention comprising, in combination, anouter, increasing his production capacity. stationary tank ii) adaptedto hold a quantity Another object of the invention is the proviofdefrosting liquid H and an inner tank l2 sion of a defrosting tank thatwill materially floating in said liquid having an inclined plate. reducethe amount of time the mold is mainform it for receiving a conventionalfrozen con-c tained submerged or in direct contact with the fectionerymold I l, and being provided with defrosting liquid, thereby preventingundue and suitable spaced manipulating handles 15. Theunnecessaryheating of the mold from the time mold If is shown filled with aplurality ofinit is removed from the refrigerating tank until dividualfrozen confectionery products secured it is again re-inserted withanother charge of by means of their respective handle members unfrozenconfectionery products. 11 in a conventional stickholder 18, by which Afurther object of the invention is to prothey may be collectivelywithdrawn from the vide a defrosting tank that will immerse or mold Hiwhen the freezing bond has been melted submerge the mold horizontally inthe defrostf: by the heat of the defrosting liquid ll containedingliquid with a minimum of pressure, and in the outer tank It duringthe period the, lower which will automatically. raise the empty moldportion of the mold I4 is submerged therein. out of the defrostingliquid and discharge the The large outer tank In is made of stainlesssame from the apparatus, thereby maintaining steel or other suitablematerial, which-is supthe apparatusin readiness at all times for theported by a plurality of legs 2!, whose lower, reception of another moldrequiring defrosting. ends are threaded, as indicated at 22. Enlarged.Other and further objects and advantages of base members or shoes 23,which have been cor the apparatus, which result in simplicity,econorespondingly threaded internally, are adapted to my and efficiency,will be apparent from the be mounted on the threads 22 of the legs 2|.In following description, wherein preferred em- .this manner the basemembers 23 are adjustbodiments of the invention are shown, referable toprovide a suitable and convenient means ence being hadto theaccompanying drawings, for leveling the apparatus when the sameisforming a part hereof, wherein like numerals ininstalled. dicate likeparts, in which- Referring now to Figure 3, the outer tank. l0 Figure 1'is a perspective view of one form of is subdivided into a relativelylarge liquid conapparatus made in accordance with the princitainingchamber 24 and a relatively small liquid ples of the invention, showinga filled frozen receiving chamber 26 by means of a suitablediconfectionery'mold positioned therein and in its vision plate orbaffle 2'! welded or otherwise submerged or defrosting position; mountedtherein adjacent one end in a liquid Fi ure 2 is another p r pective'view of the tight manner. The baffle 27 is provided with a. apparatusshown in Figure 1, showing the empty series of spaced apertures oroverflow ports 28, mold in its raised position above the level of whichdefine the normal liquid level in the large the defrosting liquid andabout to be discharged chamber 24. A cleanout or drain port 29 is bygravityfrom the inclined mold supporting provided in the bottom of theliquid contain-f platform; ing chamber 24, which is normallyclosed by a,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of conventional plug 3!. Aninlet port 32 is also the apparatus shown in Figure 2, the samebeprovided for the liquid containing chamber 24 ing shown in a reversedposition and with a through which heated liquid 33 can be introclottedoutline of a frozen confectionery mold 6o duced into the Chamber 24replenlsh the contents or maintain the same at a proper defrostingtemperature. The small'chamber 26 is provided with a suitable drain oroutlet port 33 through which the overflow liquid from the large chamber24 passing through the ports 28 of the baffle '21 may be removed. Thesmall 'chamber 26 should normally be empty of liquid so as to provide asufiicient capacity to receive the excessively large volume of overflowwhen the inner tank I2 is submergedinthe'liqu'i'd II in the outer tankID.

The inner tank I2 is also made of stainless steel or other suitablematerial, and is adapted to .be floated in the liquid II contained inthe large chamber 24 of the outer tank I0. The inner tank I2 isprovidedon its top side 36 with an opening 31', having a removable plug38 of conventional construction. The opening 31 provides means forinserting a liquid, sand or other heavy material into the tank I2 inorder to regulate its buoyancy so as to make the same easily submergiblewith a small amount of downward pressure when desired.

Flanges 4| formed integrally with the sides of the inner tank I2 projectupwardly therefrom, and have their upper ends inclined longitudinallywith respect to the top 35, providing suitable transversely spacedsupports for mounting bearing blocks 42 for receiving a series oflongitudinally spaced conveyor rollers 43 for forming a suitableinclined mold supporting platform I3 for receiving the frozenconfectionery mold I4. The flanges 4| are provided with a series ofspaced apertures, as indicated at 44, adjacent the top 3'6 of the innertank I2 so as to permit any entrapped defrosting liquid II thereon toflow off as the tank emerges therefromafter being immersed. Flanges 46are formed integrally with the ends of the inner tank I2 and projectupwardly therefrom to the height of the adjacent ends of the sideflanges 4|, thereby forming additional support for the inclined moldreceiving platform I3. The end flange 46 are each provided with anelongated opening 41 to permit any entrapped liquid II to quickly drainoff the top of the tank I2 as the same emerges therefrom.

Referring now to Figure 5, the flanges 4| of the inner tank I2 are eachprovided with a suitable laterally extending fixed stud 46 adjacenttheir low ends, which provide means for connecting the inner tank I2pivotally to the sides of the large chamber 24 of the outer tank II].The pivot studs are mounted in vertical guiderails 5I of channel shape,which in turn are fixedly secured to the inner sides of the chamber 24.The upper ends of the guiderails 5| are provided with 'a seriesofvertically spaced apertures, as indicated at 52, to receive a stopbolt'53; which in turn is provided with a conventional cotter-pin 54 topreventthe same from dropping out. tical adjustment of the floatingtankI2'on the guiderails 5|; which, in turn, will control the angle 'ofinclination of the inclinedsupporting platform I3, and also permitsea-sy'removal of the inner tank I2 at any time for any purposewhatsoever. A second pair of studs 55, similar to the studs 49, arelikewise mounted on the side flanges 4| "adjacent their opposite ends.Suitable angle iron bracket-s or stops56 are fixedly secured in anysuitable manner to the in ner surfaces of the chamber 24 above thenormal liquid level thereof to provide cooperating means for limitingthe upward movement of the This construction permits verfloating innertank I2. The stops 56- and the bolts 52 provide spaced means forholdingthe inner tank I2 normally in a horizontal position in the liquid IIcontained in the chamber 24 of the outer tank Ill. Obviously, the stops56 are not essential, but preferable since they keep the inner tank I2horizontal in the defrosting liquid and prevent its lower free edge frombumping the bafiie plate 2'! as it swings upwardly from its submergedposition, which is shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.

The modified construction shown in Figure 6 provides a side discharge ofthe empty molds instead of an end discharge, and except for such adifference it is identical in construction with the apparatus shown inFigures 1 to 5. These different constructions are essential because inmany frozen confectionery plants today a conveyor system is employed fortransporting the molds from one operation to another, and every piece ofequipment used in such an operation must be constructed to fit both anend and side delivery of the molds on such conveyor systems.

In operation of the apparatus, an operator receives the molds I4 eitherdirectly from the refrigerating brine tank or from a conveyor (notshown) filled with the confectionery products firmly frozen to the innersurfaces of its mold cavities. These confections are also collectivelysecured together by means of their handle members I'l through the mediumof the portable stickholder I8. The operator manually places the mold I4and frozen contents on the rollers 43 forming the inclined supportingplatform, while holding the mold I4 and stickholder I8 by means of theircontiguous handles. A slight downward pressure will cause the delicatelybalanced and buoyant inner tank I2 to pivot or swing on its fixed studs49 into substantially a horizontal position at approximately the levelof the liquid II, and further downward pressure will cause the innertank I2 and its supported mold I4 to submerge, the studs 49 slidingvertically downwardly during the submerging period in their respectiveguiderails 5|. The defrosting liquid II in the chamber 24 of the tank I0is hot, and therefore only a momentary submergence of the lower portionof the mold I4 isrequired to release the frozen confectionery bodiestherefrom. Thereupon, the operator lifts out the confectionscollectively by means of the handles of the stickholder I8. The emptymold I4, which has been left supported by the rollers 43 in a submergedposition, now is automatically raised upwardly out of the defrostingliquid II by reason of the buoyancy of the inner tank I2, which in theabsence of pressure returns to itsnormal raised and inclined position,whereupon the action of gravity causes the rollers 43 to discharge theempty mold. The inclined supporting platform I3 of the inner tank I2 isimmediately ready to receive another mold for defrosting purposes.

Thus, it will be apparent that the empty molds are not permitted toremain floating in the warm defrosting liquid II until the operator canget around to removing the same after disposing of the stickholder I8and its depending confections, but that the apparatus will automaticallyremove quickly and efiiciently such empty molds without any assistancefrom the operator, who is free to pick up immediately another mold fordefrosting purposes. Obviously, such apparatus considerably increasesthe capacity of the defrosting operation, which is one of the presentday bottlenecks in an automatic system; prevents undue heating of themolds, which normally are filled immediately after defrosting andreturned to the refrigerating brine, thus effecting a considerablesaving in refrigeration; and delivers the mold to be defrosted into thedefrosting liquid in substantially a horizontal position so that onlythat portion thereof requiring defrosting is heated upon submergence.

While no specific method of heating the defrosting liquid ll is shown inthe drawing, there are several conventional methods now used in theindustry and any one of them may be applied to the heating of thedefrosting liquid in the present apparatus, viz: (1) a gas or electricheater may be mounted under the chamber 24 of the tank l; (2) acirculating system of heated liquid may be provided from an outsidesource of supply through the inlet port 32 and the outlet port 33; and(3) if the chamber 24 of the tank I0 is filled with a liquid, such aswater, steam may be introduced through the inlet port 32 to effectivelyheat the same. The steam will condense in the defrosting liquid, and theexcess liquid in the chamber 24 will be ejected through the overflowports 28 of the bafile 21 into the small chamber 26 and removedtherefrom through the outlet or drain port 33.

Although I have only described in detail two embodiments of theinvention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art thatmany further modifications may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, astationary outer tank adapted to hold a quantity of liquid and a movableinner tank adapted to float in the liquid of said outer tank, said innertank having a supporting platform projecting normally above the liquidprovided with a series of rollers adapted to support a mold, said innertank having means projecting from opposite sides adapted to operate invertical guideways mounted on the inner sides of said outer tank wherebywhen pressure is exerted on the mold positioned on said platform saidplatform will be submerged in the liquid in a horizontal position.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, astationary outer tank adapted to hold a quantity of liquid and a movableinner tank adapted to float in the liquid of said outer tank, said innertank having an inclined supporting platform provided with a series ofrollers adapted to support a mold normally above said liquid andgravitationally discharge the same automatically therefrom whenreleased, said inner tank having means projecting from opposite sidesadjacent one end adapted to operate in spaced vertical guideways securedon the inner sides of said outer tank whereby said inner tank is mountedpivotally and slidable vertically with respect to said outer tank sothat when pressure is exerted on the mold positioned on said inclinedplatform the same will swing into substantially a horizontal positionbefore the lower portion of the mold becomes submerged in said liquid.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, astationary outer tank adapted to hold a quantity of liquid and a movableinner tank adapted to float in the liquid of said outer tank, said innertank having an inclined supporting platform provided with a series ofrollers adapted to support a mold above the top of said outer tank andgravitationally discharge the same therefrom when released, said innertank having means for pivotally connecting it with cooperating means onsaid outer tank, said means being mounted adjacent one end of said tanksabove the normal liquid level, and a second cooperating means spacedfrom said pivotally cooperating means for limiting the upward movementof the opposite end of said inner tank.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a stationary outertank subdivided by means of an overflow balile into a relatively largechamber adapted to hold a quantity of liquid and a relatively smallchamber providing a reservoir for catching the overflow from said largechamber, means connecting said large chamber to a source of liquidsupply, means for connecting said small chamber to a waste drain, aninner tank adapted to float in said liquid in said large chamber havingan inclined supporting platform provided with a series of rollersadapted to support a mold above the liquid level and gravitationallydischarge the same therefrom when the mold is released, means forconnecting one side of said inner tank pivotally to one side of thelarge chamber of said stationary tank whereby when pressure is exertedon the mold positioned on said inclined platform the same will swingsubstantially into a horizontal position before the bottom of the moldbecomes submerged in said liquid.

5. Apparatus of the character described com prising, in combination, astationary outer tank adapted to hold a quantity of liquid and afloating inner tank having an inclined supporting platform projectingabove the liquid level of said outer tank, means projecting outwardlyfrom opposite sides of said inner tank cooperating with means projectinginwardly from the inner sides of said outer tank for pivotallyconnecting said tanks together, and means for adjusting at least one ofsaid cooperating means to vertically adiililist said inner tank withrespect of said outer 6. Apparatus of the character describedcomprising, in combination, a stationary outer tank adapted to hold aquantity of liquid and a floating inner tank having an inclinedsupporting platform projecting above the liquid level of said outertank, means projecting from opposite sides of said inner tank adapted tooperate in vertical guideways mounted on the inner sides of said outertank whereby when pressure is exerted on the platform of the inner tankit will move substantially into a horizontal position before becomingsubmerged in said liquid, and means for providing vertical adjustment ofsaid inner tank on said guide rails.

AARON FRIEDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 439,072 Jones Oct. 21, 18901,477,068 Magann Dec. 11, 1923 1,775,254 Phelps Sept. 9, 1930 1,812,291Gosch June 30, 1931 2,374,535 Gibson Apr. 24, 1945

